MS students will achieve
the following learning objectives during completion of the MS program in public
health:

Demonstrate knowledge
and understanding of a well-defined public health discipline and its connection
to, and impact on, public health.

Demonstrate understanding
of discipline-specific theoretical constructs, research design, research
methodology and analytical strategies.

Demonstrate the ability
to evaluate and interpret scientific literature.

Participate in an original
research project that makes a contribution to the body of knowledge of their
discipline.

Demonstrate the ability
to disseminate research findings to the scientific community and the general
public.

Master of Science

The Master of Science (MS)
degree in Public Health Sciences prepares individuals to enter academic, research,
or professional careers pertaining to broad areas of public health concern.
It is the appropriate route for continuing studies leading to the PhD degree.
Academic preparation is offered through a broad spectrum of public health courses
and related research from which students can fashion individualized curricula
to meet highly specialized objectives. Integrated with the course work (in all
areas but biostatistics) is a research project, the findings of which must be
described in a research thesis. Interdisciplinary studies that combine two or
more of the Schoolís program areas are encouraged. The MS degree is awarded
under the University of Illinois at Chicago Graduate College. For the purposes
of this degree program, the School of Public Health acts as the Department of
Public Health Sciences (DPHS) of the Graduate College. All requirements related
to the degree, as described in the UIC Graduate Study Catalog, must be met.

Requirements for Admission

Application is made for
admission to the Graduate College rather than to the School of Public Health.
The appropriate Graduate College application form should be used. Recommendations
regarding the admissibility of applicants to the MS degree program are made
by the respective Division Admissions Committees, Division Directors, and by
the Dean of the School of Public Health to the Dean of the Graduate College.
To be eligible for admission, an applicant must have obtained a baccalaureate
degree comparable to that granted by The University of Illinois. Ordinarily,
applicants should be graduates with majors in appropriate biological, physical,
or social sciences. In addition to academic transcripts, GRE scores, three letters
of recommendation, and a career goal statement are required. The career goal
statement must include a written discussion of the following:

∑Reasons for wishing to
pursue a degree in public health at the UIC School of Public Health.

∑Reasons for selecting the
MS degree rather than the MPH degree.

∑Reasons for selecting one
of the Divisions.

∑Area of research to be
pursued (a research thesis is not required for biostatistics students).

The generally applied minimal
standards for admission include an undergraduate grade point average of 4.00
(A = 5.00), and a GRE total (verbal plus quantitative) of at least 1000. Divisions
may have specific additional requirements.

Deadline for Completing
Degree Requirements

In graduate programs requiring
32 to 40 semester hours of graduate work, candidates must complete all of the
requirements within five calendar years after their initial registration in
the Graduate College. In programs requiring 41 to 64 semester hours of graduate
work, candidates must complete all of the requirements within six calendar years.
Students pursuing combined degrees will be allowed an additional two years.
Time spent on a leave of absence approved by the School and the Graduate College
is not counted toward the degree time limit (see Leave of Absence).

Program of Study

After admission to the MS
degree in one of the four Divisions, the student is assigned a major advisor
with interests and expertise compatible with the student's goals. Together,
they develop an overall program of study. The program approval is the responsibility
of the Division Director and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Minimum graduation requirements
for the MS degree in the School of Public Health as well as all division specializations
except Biostatistics, include 32 credit hours of course work and 16 hours of
independent research leading to a thesis distributed as follows:

Required
Courses Semester Hours

EPID 400 - Principles
of Epidemiology 3 SH

*BSTT 400 - Biostatistics
I ** 3 SH

Division Course Requirements,
Electives and 26 SH

Seminars. (At least nine
semester hours must be at the 500 level)

Research (IPHS 598)
16 SH

TOTAL
48 SH

* These courses are
prerequisites for many 400-level and 500-level courses.

**BSTT 400 not required
for Biostatistics majors.

Independent Study (IPHS
596) - no more than 4 semester hours of independent study may be applied to
the degree.

The Master of Science Program
in Biostatistics substitutes a comprehensive examination for the thesis. The
minimum course requirement is 48 semester credit hours.

With the exception of Biostatistics,
a high degree of flexibility exists in the MS program of study in that only
two courses are stipulated as school-wide requirements, and students are encouraged
to select courses from more than one Division. Programs might consist, for example,
of a blend of environmental and occupational health sciences with epidemiology
and biostatistics. The School of Public Health courses might also be combined
with studies outside the School. It is recommended that all students take BSTT
401, Biostatistics II, as part of their program of study in preparation for
thesis research. A major requirement is that the program of study be designed
and the entire 48 semester hours, including the electives, be directed toward
a meaningful health-related goal. For full-time students, it is anticipated
that at least four semesters, usually more depending upon the thesis topic,
will be needed to complete the requirements for the MS degree. The student's
thesis format must adhere to the Graduate College requirements.

Research: Before
undertaking research leading to the required thesis, the student, with the assistance
and approval of his/her major advisor, must select a Thesis Advisor, who must
be a member of the Graduate College Faculty. In conjunction with the Thesis
Advisor, the student selects the Thesis Examining Committee, subject to the
final approval of the major advisor, Division Director, Dean of the School of
Public Health, and the Graduate College. This committee consists of at least
three members, one of whom must be a tenured full member of the Graduate College
faculty. One committee member may be selected from outside the School of Public
Health. The members of the Thesis Examining Committee will meet with the student
to approve the thesis proposal, and to determine that the student is adequately
prepared to undertake it. The thesis research may emphasize theoretical, laboratory,
field, or computer-based investigations, but it should be feasible to complete
in two to three semesters of full-time work. The members of the committee then
provide guidance and assistance throughout the research experience of the student.

It is strongly advised that
no more than one semester elapse following completion of course work before
approval of the thesis proposal.

Preparation for Thesis
Approval: Students should seek the guidance of their advisors and the Graduate
College at an early stage of thesis preparation. It is highly recommended
that MS students at the point of beginning work on their thesis see the SPH
Office of Student Academic Services, or the Graduate College on the 6th floor
of University Hall, for a copy of the Graduate College brochure, "Instructions
for Completing Graduate College Degree Requirements and Preparation of Theses."
This handbook is available online (http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/gcforms.htm).
This handbook provides instruction for final thesis preparation and format approval.
The advisor and SPH are responsible for the approval of the thesis content and
style.

Final Oral Examination:
When a student has completed the thesis research work and a final draft of the
thesis, s/he should request the advisor to convene the Thesis Examining Committee
to conduct the final exam and for review and approval of the thesis for content.
When the student and major advisor agree that the student is prepared, the advisor
assembles the Thesis Examining Committee to conduct a final oral examination.
The Thesis Examining Committee examines the student in a private session, indicating
to the student whether any further work or revision of the thesis is required.
The examination is then open to faculty and students for an oral presentation
of the studentís research. Finally, the Thesis Examining Committee reports to
the Graduate College that the student has or has not passed his/her examination
and thus has or has not satisfied all requirements for the MS degree. A candidate
cannot be passed if more than one vote of "fail" is reported. The
report to the Graduate College is made by the members of the Thesis Examining
Committee and the advisor who sign and date the "Certificate of Approval"
form (sent to the Thesis Examining Committee Chair by the Graduate College).
When all Graduate College forms have been signed and dated by the Thesis Examining
Committee and major advisor, they should be brought to the SPH Deanís Office
for "departmental" signature, and then forwarded to the Graduate College
to conclude the process. Upon approval of Dr. Sylvia Furner, the Director of
Graduate Studies for the Department of Public Health Sciences, the student is
recommended to the Graduate College for award of the degree.

Note: SPH requires that
one copy of the thesis be deposited with the SPH Office of the Dean to be placed
in the Reference Center of the School.

MS Bypass Procedure

With the approval of the
student's advisor and Division Director, a student may choose to enter the PhD
program and not undertake the MS thesis. A written letter of application must
be made to justify this transfer. The Division admissions committee will review
the justification letter and an accompanying transcript. Recommendations for
approving the bypass will be made to the SPH Director of Graduate Studies (Senior
Associate Dean) for approval and transmission to the Graduate College for final
approval. A list of courses to be transferred to the PhD program must accompany
the justification letter and approval.

Transfer to MPH Degree

If an MS student wishes
to transfer to the MPH degree, a Change of Graduate Program Form must be completed.
The appropriate Division admissions committee will review the application and
forward its recommendation to the Dean for final review and approval.